MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.

The Rockies roughed up the Cubs, 7-2, on Tuesday as DJ LeMahieu had three hits and Nolan Arenado drove in two runs. Dallas Beeler took the loss.

* Cubs manager Joe Maddon pulled Starlin Castro in a double switch for the second straight game, partly because of the shortstop’s struggles. Castro, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, is batting .237.

“I think it’s great the conjecture occurs now, I think it’s good for the game,” Maddon said. “It’s tough for Starlin if his name is mentioned that often. That’s where it becomes difficult for the guy who’s name is being bandied about.”

* The Cubs are looking for a fifth starter, and Beeler was considered an option, but he served up four runs in the first inning on Tuesday and was pulled with one out in the second after he walked LeMahieu. The Cubs are reportedly in the market for a starter prior to Friday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline, and Beeler’s ineffectiveness in his three starts may prompt the front office to make a few more phone calls.

One option could be Travis Wood, who struck out six over 3 ⅔ innings in relief of Beeler, but Maddon likes the lefty in the ‘pen.

“There’s no denying he could be a consideration,” Maddon said of Wood. “I’d prefer that he would not be. You have to consider that it may happen, yes.”

* Neil Ramirez was not available Tuesday. The right-hander, who has not pitched since Saturday, was to be examined by the team doctors. He was sidelined from mid April until late June because of inflammation in his shoulder. Maddon expected more news on Wednesday.

* Dexter Fowler had three hits, and has reached base safely in 12 straight games.

The Cubs began Tuesday third in the NL Wild Card race. What if they don’t make a deal by Friday’s Trade Deadline? Manager Joe Maddon is OK with that.

“If you look at the group we have, the big thing there is to get more out of what we have,” Maddon said Tuesday. “There is more. … There’s a lot left in the tank offensively for us in the next two months. If we can get everybody to play offense to the level we’re capable of, there’s a lot of offense.”

The Cubs look at players like Miguel Montero, Javier Baez and Tommy La Stella, who are currently on the disabled list, but close to returning. The in-house acquisitions could be like making a trade, and the Cubs won’t have to give anyone up.

“We didn’t know how much we missed [Chris] Denorfia until he came back [from the DL],” Maddon said. “A lot of times the answers do lie within. The other part I like is that we all fought together to this particular juncture. To remain together and rely on the same group sometimes works to your benefit, too.”

Maddon recalled how shook up the Rays were last year when David Price was traded to the Tigers.

“Offensively, of course, we’d like to have done more to this point, but I know there is more,” he said of the Cubs. “I have a lot of faith in our guys and the biggest thing is when you’re going through a rough moment, like getting swept at home, it really stinks, but it happens. How do you react to that moment is what really matters. How do you stick together? How do you get to the next day?”

On Tuesday, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo took part in ribbon cutting ceremonies of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation Hospitality Room on the oncology floor at Lurie Children’s Hospital. After the ceremony, Rizzo visited the patients on the floor, signed autographs, took photos, and talked to families. He brought teddy bears, Cubs hats, and growth charts to give to the patients as well.

Dallas Beeler makes his third start this season when the Cubs play host to the Rockies at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. Here’s the lineup:

Fowler CF

Schwarber C

Bryant 3B

Rizzo 1B

Soler RF

Denorfia LF

Castro SS

Beeler P

Russell 2B

* Beeler’s two previous starts have been as the 26th man in a doubleheader. He did not factor in the decision in his last start in game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Reds. The right-hander gave up five runs (three earned) in two innings.

* There are reports the Cubs are looking for starting pitching help prior to Friday’s Trade Deadline, and that they have had talks with the Padres. One target is pitcher Tyson Ross.

* Despite Monday’s win, the Cubs showed that the back end of their bullpen may need some help. Cubs relievers have given up 14 runs over 15 1/3 innings in the last four games.

* Anthony Rizzo is hitting .129 (4-for-31) with one extra-base hit and one RBI in his last eight games. Overall in July, he’s hitting .218 with one homer in 22 games.

Pitcher Jason Motte helped the Cubs athletic trainers teach kids from Chicago Boys and Girls Clubs about the importance of exercise, nutrition and the dangers of performance enhancing drugs during a seminar at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The Cubs athletic trainers hosted the event in conjunction with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), the Taylor Hooton Foundation and Major League Baseball charities. It’s all part of the PLAY campaign — Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth.

The 80 plus kids took part in exercises on the field, then got to ask Motte questions. One kid, who is part of an RBI team, asked Motte how hard he could throw.

Tsuyoshi Wada gave up two runs, none earned, over six innings in Iowa’s 8-3 win over Memphis. Mike Olt, Chris Valaika and Christian Villanueva each homered. Olt was 3-for-5, Valaika drove in three, and Villanueva had two RBI. Wada struck out six and walked one, giving up four hits. It was his fourth quality start with Iowa.

Tennessee had Monday off and resumes action Tuesday against Montgomery.

Jen-Ho Tseng gave up three runs over seven innings in Myrtle Beach’s 4-3 win over Carolina. Jason Vosler hit a three-run homer in the sixth. Trey Martin’s sacrifice fly in the seventh was the game-winner.

South Bend had Monday off, and resumes action Tuesday against Great Lakes.

Donnie Dewees had two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs in Eugene’s 9-5 win over Boise. OScar De La Cruz gave up five runs over five innings and got the win.

Mesa had Monday off and resumes action Tuesday, finishing a July 5 game against the D-Backs that was postponed, and then playing the originally scheduled game as well.

Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan and his wife Corrie visited Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill., on Monday and spent time with patients and their families. Coghlan brought Cubs hats, teddy bears, replica batting helmets, and
photos to those that he met with, and signed autographs and posed for photos as well.

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